Electric sign



Feb. 16 1926. 1,572,874

F. ARcHlLA ELECTRIC SIGN Filed April 5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 AnmuhvzzLu!!!riilllwm @www im i Feb. 16 1926. 1,572,874

F. ARCHILA ELECTRIC SIGN Filed April 3, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 MMM@ Feb. 16 1926.

1,572,874 F.ARcHmA ELECTRIC SIGN Filed April 5, 1924 4 sheetsshet s Feb. 16 1926.

F. ARCHILA ELECTRC SIGN Filed April 5, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INSULATION Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES l l l 1,512,874 PATENT oFFlcE.

FULGENCIO ABCHILA, 0F BOGOTA, COLOMBIA.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

Application led April 8, 1924. Serial No. 708,992.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, F ULGENoIo RCHILA, a

citizen of Colombia, South America, residing at Bogota, Colombia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elec tric Signs, of which the following is a spec1- fication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to electric signs, such as are used for advertising or display purposes, and the invention alms to provide a novel and improved circuit controller for controlling the circuits of electric lamps distributed over the area of the sign, in order that the lamps can be lighted to produce moving pictures or characters, and other novel illuminating effects.

Another object is the provision of such a controller for the lam circuits which is of such construction an operation that the circuits of the lamps can be quickly closed and opened in succession, for producing a series of rapid changes, thereby obtaining a motion picture, moving letters or characters, or the like, and the apparatus providing for successive displays, each having a period of display involving a predetermined number of changes for producing the motion picture or the like, whereby the successive displays can be for different subjects, for different advertisements, or the like.

.A further object is the provision of such a controller in which the lamp circuits are controlled by a moving sheet, with circuit closing means spaced apart longitudinally of the sheet, so that the different zones or sections of the lamps of the sign are controlled 'from longitudinally spaced zones or sections of the sheet; and a further object, in this connection, is to provide means for advancing the sheet at a given speed for a distance the length of a zone or section of the sheet, to obtain thecircuit changes for one display, after which the sheet is advanced at a greater speed so as to present the next display portion thereof for cooperation with the circuit closing means.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it lbeing understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation, somewhat diagrammatical, of the controller for the lamp circuits.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof..

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical view of the electric sign.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view showing the electrical circuits. A

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the actuating means for the sheet. B Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7 is a fragmentary lan view of the perforated sheet and one o the sets of contacts.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of such set of contacts.

Fig. 9 lis a vertical section on the line 9--9 of Fig. 12.

Figs. 10, l1 and 12 are vertical sections on the respective lines' 10-10, 11-11 and 12-12 of F ig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatical View ofthe perforated sheety and contact devices.

The sign 2O may beef any suitable size l for either outdoor or indoor use, and is of suitable construction, comprising ra frame having the display area thereof formed with cells 2l which, as shown, are arranged in rows crossing one another at right angles, although other arrangements of cells can be used. Electric lampsl 22 are disposed in the cells.

The lamps are divided into zones or sections 22, 22, etc., and there may be any suitable number of such zones or sections, each containing a number of lamps. rlhe divisions between the zones or sections may be either horizontally or vertically of the sign, or other zoning arrangements can be used. The lamps are all connected to a etc., and the devices 27', 27, etc., are dis- 'posed transversely of the table and sheet and are aced apart longitudinally ofl said table and.p sheet, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4. Conductors or wires 28 connect the lamps and contact means 27. Thus, the lamps 22 are connected to the contact device 27', the

lamps 22l are connected to the contact device 27, and so on. As seen in Fig. 1, there are ten contact devices and corresponding zones of lamps, although the number thereof ma be more or less.

The tab e'25 and contact devices form part of the controller, said table being supported by a suitable frame 29. The sheet` 26 is wound on a drum 30 which is remov-` ably sup orted from one end of the frame pieces 35 are disposed on the journals of,

the u per roller 31, and are forced downward y by the adjustin screws 36, to force the roller 33 downwa ly with the desired pressure. v

The drum 32, like the vdrum 30, is removable, so that after the sheet is completely wound on thedrum, said drum can be removed, and the drum 30 can be substituted by another drum having another per- Vforated sheet thereon, or the same sheet can be used repeatedly. As shown, one end ofthe drum 32 is pivotally supported by a pivot 37 that is screw-threaded or otherwise adjustably mounted to be projected and retracted. The end flange of the drum at the end opposite to the pivot 37 has apertures 38 to receive the lu s 39 of a disk 40 on the inner end of a s aft 41 journaled in a bearing 43 carried by the frame. The corresponding end' of the drum 32 has va stud or pinV 42 to engage in the end of the shaft 41. When the .p1vot 37 is retracted,

thefdrum 32 can be disengaged from the disk 40 and removed.

One 'of the contact devices 27 is shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive. 'i The contact device comprises a bar 44 disposed transversely above the table and sheet 25 and carried by the frame, said bar being composed of several pieces secured together,

- as seen in Fig. 9. Secured in the bar 44 are the vertically spaced metal strips 45 and 46, which are in staggered arrangement, as seen in Figs. 10 and 11, the bar 44 being of wood or other insulating material. The strips 45 and 46 have the projections 47 to which the conductors or wires 28 are connected, and contact lingers 48 are pivoted, as at 50, to the o posite ends of lthe lstripsv 45 and 46 and t eir free ends bear on the sheet 26, suitable springs 51 being rovided for pressing the fingers down. The ree ends of the contact fin ers of each set are in a transverse line. he sheet 26 is of pa er or other insulating material,and has t e slots or perforations 52, which, when they pass under the iin ers, permit the fingers to contact with t e table or contact plate 25, thereby closing the circuits 'of the corresponding lamps, as will be apparent.

Each set of contacts or contact lingers 48 therefore controls the circuits of the lam s of the corresponding zone or section of the sign, and by using a number of sets of contacts spaced longitudinally of the table 25 and sheet 26,' the width of the sheet and table can be reduced in pro ortion, so as to avoid the objections inci ent to the use of a very wide erforated sheet that would be necessary or a large sign having a great many electric lamps.

The perforations or slots 52 of the sheet 26 are divided into longitudinally spaced zones 52', as seen in Fig. 13, and said zones are arranged in sets or groups. Thus, reference being had to Fig. 13, the first set or group of zones 52 is composed of ten zones, one for each of the contact devices 27, the

length of the zones corresponding tothe spaces between said devices. The next set of zones 52 follows after the first set, and so on, each set of perforated zones being intended to produce a complete display on the sign, as will hereinafter more fully apear.

IIhe sheet 26 is advanced over the table to i move the perforations of the zones 52 under the Contact devices 27, and then, when the sheet has been advanced the length of a zone under the devices 27 the sheet is advanced the length of a set of zones, thereby bringing the next set of zones in position to move under the contact devices 27 and the mechanism for advancing the sheet in such manner will now be described.

The power for moving the sheet 26 is obtained from an electri(I motor 53, as shown, although other driving means can be used. The motor 53 is connected by a belt 54 with a pulley wheel 55 that is rotatable on a spindle 56 carried by the frame 29. Gear wheels 57 and 58 are rotatable with the pulley wheel 55, said wheels 55, 57 and 58 being preferably secured on the same hub which rotates on the spindle 56. A lever 59 is fulcrumed on the spindle 56 and carries gear Wheels 60 and 61 meshing or engaging the respective gear wheels 57 and 58, and

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said gear wheels 60 and 61 are oscillated I bodily with the lever 59 about the axis of the spindle 56. A. small gear wheel 62 is secured to the gear wheel 60 to rotate therewith. The gear wheels 61 and 62 are arranged to alternately engage a gear wheel 63 secured to one end of the roller 31, whereby the roller 31 can be rotated through either of two trains of gear wheels. One train of gear wheels includes a small gear wheel 57, a large gear wheel 60, small gear wheel 62 and the gear wheel 63, while the other train includes the gear wheels 58, 61 and 63. XVhen the gear wheel 63 is driven from the gear wheel G2 it will rotate much slower than when rotated by the gear wheel 61, du'e to the differences in gear ratios of the two gear trains, thus providing for different speeds of movement of the sheet 26 when the lever 59 is oscillated to its opposite positions.

In order to operate the lever 59, there are provided the solenoids or electro-magnets 64 and 65 in which'the cores (i6 and 67 work,

and the lever is connected to said cores between the solenoids. Both solenoids 64 and 65 are connected to the common feeder conductor 23, and the other terminals of the solenoids are connected by the respective conductors 68 and 69 with contact fingers 7 0 and 71, respectively. Said contact fingers 70 and 71 are similar to the contact fingers 48 and are preferably carried by the bar 44 of the first contact device 27. The sheet 26 has slots or perforations 72 and 73 to move under the respective contact fingers 70 and 71, the perforation 72 moving under the contact fingerl 7 0 when the sheet 26 has been moved the length of a zone to complete one display, so that the circuit of the solenoid 64 is closed to swing the lever 59 and bring the gear wheel 61 into engagement with the gear wheel 63. vThe perforation 73 is so arranged on the sheet, in conjuction with each set of perforated zones, so as to move under the contact finger 71 when the sheet is moved to bring the corresponding set of perforated zones into position to move under the contact devices 27. The perforations 72 and 73 and contact fingers 7() and 71 are preferably located at one edge of the sheet.

When the perforation 73 moves under the contact finger 71, the circuit of the solenoid 65 is closed so as to swing the leverl 59 to remove the gear wheel.61 from the gear' wheel 63 and bring the gear wheel 62 into engagement with the gear wheel 63, thereby changing the speed of movement of the roller 31 and sheet 26.

The drum 32 is rotated with a steady motion, to wind the sheet thereon. For this purpose, a pulley wheel 74 is rotatable loosely on the shaft 41, and Yis connected by a belt 75 with a pulley wheel 76 carried by the pulley wheel 55. A drum 77 is secured on the shaft 41 and is embraced by a friction band 7 8 having its ends connected by an adjusting screw or bolt 79 that is engaged 32 is rotated too fast for the movement of the sheet from the ro11er'31, the band 78 can slip on the drum 77.

' The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Starting with the sheet 26 in the position, as shown in Fig. 13, with the perforated zones 52 in position adjacent to the corresponding contact devices to move under said devices, the aperture 73 is below the contact finger 71, so that said finger contacts with the table or late 25 through said perforation or slot, tlliereby closing the circuit of the solenoid 25 by way of the generator 24, plate 25, contact finger 71, conductor 69, solenoid 65 and return to generator. The core 67 is attracted into the solenoid 65, thereby swinging the lever 59 to move the gear wheel 62 into engagement with the gear wheel 63, and the roller 31 is therefore driven by the train of gears 57 60, 62 and 63 to )move the sheet 26 over the table 25. As the perforations or slots of the sheet move under the contactl fingers 48, the circuits of the lamps 22 are closed, the Contact fingers of each set controlling the circuits of the lamps of the corresponding zone of the sign. The several zone of perforations 52 movie simultaneously under the contact devices 27 so that the lamps of the several Zones of the sign are all simultaneously controlled, the perforations or slots being properly cut in the sheet to produce the desired effect, which may be a motion picture, moving letters, words, or characters, and the like. As shown in Fig. 3, an effect can be obtain resembling the tearing off or removal of sheets containing the words or characters. Thus, at the start, the lamps may be lighted to produce certain words or characters, and as the sheet moves under the contact devices, the lamps can be lighted, starting at one corner of the sign, to represent the back of a sheet being torn off, thereby exposing the next words or characters, the black squares` or cells in Fig. 3 representing lighted lamps. Thus, as the perforated zones 52 of the slieet move under the contact devices 27, the lamps of the sign are lighted and extinguished to produce motion pictures, moving letters, words or characters, and other optical eff-ccts, and such display can continue for a predetermined length of time, depending .on the spacing of the contact devices 27. When the perforated zones 52 have moved under the corresponding contact devices 27, to complete the display, the perforation'or aper- `ture 72 moves under the contact finger 70,

so that said finger touches the table or plate 25 thereby closing the circuit of the solenoid 64, including the generator 24, table 25, (-011- 'is claimed as new is tact finger 70, conductor 68, and solenoid 64. y

ymoved with greater speed over the table 25,

so as to make the change from one display to the next without too long an interruption. The set of perforated zones are thus removed from under the contact devices, and the next set of perforated zones is brought into postion adjacent to the corresponding contact devices, and as soon as the sheet has moved suiciently to bring the next set of perforated zones adjacent to the corresppnding contacts, the corresponding perforati'ons or apertures 7 3 moves under the contact no'er 71, thereby energizing the solenoid 65 an swinging the lever 59 to remove the gear wheel 61 from the gear wheel 63 and return the gear wheel 62 into engagement with said F gear wheel 63. The sheet is now moved, as before, under the contact devices to produce the next display. Any number of displays can thus be provided for, each display running for a number of seconds orv minutes, and the different displays can' be composed of different words, pictures, or characters, for advertising purposes.

It is desirable, when changing the displays, to keep the sign dark, and this is r' readily accomplished by the provision of a switch 81 in the -conductor 23 in series with each of the lamps, as seen in Fig. 4, said switch being operatively connected with the lever 59 so that when said lever is swung by the energization of the solenoid 64, the switch 81 is opened, said switch being closed when the solenoid 65 is energized. Thus, when the erforated zones of one set have moved un er the contact devices, and the aperture '72 moves under the contact finger 70, so that the solenoid 64 is energized to control the speed change gearing to move the sheet at a faster speed for changing the dis lays, the switch 81 is opened during suc interval, to prevent the lamps of the sign being lighted until they next set. of perforated zones are brought to a position to cooperate with the corresponding contact devices. v

Having thus described the invention, what 1. An electric circuit controller comprising longitudinally spaced contact devices,-

-and operable for moving the sheet 'at one a sheet movable longitudinally past said devices and having successive sets of longitudinally spaced zones of circuit controlling means cooperable simultaneously with said devices, actuating means for moving said sheet past said devices, and means controlled by the movement of the sheet by the actuating means for removing the control of said circuits from said devices and circuit controlling means after the zones of circuit controlling means have passed the corresponding devices until the next set of zones of circuit controlling means are brought to a position to cooperate with the corresponding devices. v

2. An electric circuit controller comprising longitudinally spaced contact devices, a sheet movable longitudinally past lsaid devices and having successive sets of longitudinally spaced zones of perforations cooperable simultaneously with said devices for controlling electrical circuitsactuating means 4-for moving said sheet past said devices, and means controlled by the movement of the .sheet by the actuating meansfor opening said circuits after the zones of perforations have passed the corresponding contact .devices until the next set of perforations are brought to a position to cooperate with the corresponding contact devices.

3. An electric circuit controller comprising longitudinally spaced contact devices, a sheet movable longitudinally past said devices and'having successive sets of longitudinally spaced zones of circuit controllin means cooperable simultaneously with sai devices, and variable speed actuating means for said sheet controlled by the movement of the sheet and operable to move the sheet at one speed when the zones of circuit controlling means move past said devices in cooperation therewith, and operable to move the sheet at a faster speed when said zones of circuit controlling means have passed said devices until the next set of zones of circuit controlling means are moved into position to cooperate with the corresponding contact devices.

4. An electric circuit controller according to claim 3 and including, in combination, means controlled b the movement of the sheet by the actuating means for removing the control of the circuits from said devices and circuit controlling means While said actuating means is moving the sheet at the faster speed.

5. An electric circuit controller comprising longitudinally spaced contact devices, a sheet movable longitudinally past said devices and having successive sets of longitudinally vspaced zones of perforations cooperable simultaneously with said devices for controlling electrical circuits, and variable speed actuating means for 'said sheet controlled by the movement of the sheet speed when the zones of perforations move past the corresponding devices in cooperation therewith, and operable to move the sheet at a faster speed when said zones of perforations have passed the corresponding devices until the next set of zones of pervvariable speed-actuating means for moving said sheet, said sheet and means having cooperable portions for controlling said means' when the sheet is moved to predetermined positionsso as to automatically increase and decrease the speed of movement of the sheet.

8. An electric circuit controller comprising longitudinally spaced contact devices, a sheet movable longitudinally7 past said devices and having successive sets of longitudinally spaced zones of circuit controlling means cooper-able simultaneously with said devices, and variable speed actuating means for moving said sheet, said sheet and means having cooperable portions for controlling said actuating means to automatically increase and decrease the speed ot movement of the sheet, said portions of the sheet being so arranged with reference to said sets of Zones of circuit controlling means that the sheet moves at a reduced speed when the zones of circuit controlling means are moving past the corresponding contact devices, and that the sheet moves at a faster speed after said zones of circuit controlling means have moved past the corresponding contact devices until the next set of zones of circuit controlling means are moved into position to cooperate with the corresponding contact devices.

9. An electric circuit controller comprising longitudinally spaced contact devices, a sheet movable longitudinally past said devices and having successive sets of longitudinally spaced zones of circuit controllind' means cooperable simultaneously with sai devices, speed change gearing for moving said sheet, and controlling means for said gearing controlled by said sheet for moving the sheet at a given speed when the zones of circuit controlling means of one set moves adjacent to the corresponding contact vde-- vices for cooperation therewith, and for moving the sheet at a faster speed after said zones of circuit controlling means have moved past the corresponding contact devices to bring the next set of zones of circuit controlling means into position to c0- operate with the corresponding contact devices.

10. An electric circuit controller comprising longitudinally spaced contact devices, a sheet movable longitudinally past said de vices and having successive sets of longitudinally spaced zones of perforations cooperable simultaneously With said devices for controlling electrical circuits, speed change gearing for moving said sheet, and controlling means for said gearing, said sheet having perforations cooperable With said controlling means and so arranged that when a set of perforated zones are moved adjacent to the corresponding contact delA vices the sheet is moved at a given speed, and when the zones of perforations are moved past the corresponding contact devices, the sheet is moved at a faster speed to bring the next set of perforated zones adjacent to the corresponding contact devices for cooperation therewith.

1l. An electric sign controller according to claim 9 and including in combination a switch operable with the controlling means for opening the circuits when the gearingis controlled for the movement of the sheet at the faster speed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atIix my signature.

FULGENCIO ARCI-HLA. 

